Woman wanted for animal cruelty caught with 42 cats in her car

WARRENTON, Ore. (KATU) – A woman with open warrants for animal cruelty was arrested Monday after Warrenton Police officers found her car in a store parking lot filled with more than 40 cats.

An officer said he saw several cats inside a car parked outside the Warrenton Fred Meyer, and that the smell of urine and feces coming from the vehicle was “overwhelming.”

He contacted the car's owner, Kathryn St. Claire, 58, of Lake Stevens, Washington, who was wanted on 10 counts of animal cruelty in the Evergreen State.

She was arrested and booked at the Clatsop County Jail on an additional 30 counts of animal neglect II - a Class C felony.

Police took her vehicle to the animal shelter so they could start giving the cats food and fresh water. After the District Attorney’s Office granted a search warrant, staff at the animal shelter and Bayshore Animal Hospital started taking the cats out of the vehicle for care.

Officials said they found 41 live cats and one deceased cat inside the car.

St. Claire could face additional charges, pending further investigation.